Digital Eclipse

I was n’t able to beat the difficult demonstration forVolgarr the Viking 2at Guerilla Collective this year , and I appreciated Digital Eclipse ’s approaching game all the more for that .

toy demonstration for unreleased games at event like Summer Game Fest Play solar day or Guerilla Collective can be stressful . That ’s because , I ’m usually trying something that I ’ve never play before in front of developer nearly conversant with the biz . Typically , I like to beat the demonstration I play at these form of preview events , if potential . When I maltreat up to playVolgarr the Viking 2at Guerilla Collective ’s rooftop event in Los Angeles , I knew that wouldd be a tall undertaking .

Summer Gaming Marathon Feature Image

Volgarr the Viking 2is a subsequence to a 2013 retro throwback platformer known for being quite difficult . It does n’t overlook a beat in keeping up that flavor of difficulty , although it still feel quite fair in its plan . The limited time I had to pass withVolgarr the Viking 2among a sea of other games , such asPinball SpireandGrit and Valor – 1949 , meant I was n’t capable to master it or reach the end of the demo that Digital Eclipse has brought to Guerilla Collective . I know I ’m going to change that as presently asVolgarr the Viking 2launches this August .

Volgarr returns

Like its predecessor , Volgarr the Viking2 is a Nordic - theme platformer with beautiful pixel graphics . The Guerilla Collective demo featured a snowy level fill with skeletons , ear , and other fantastic creatures . This sequel will feel straightaway familiar to anyone who has represent a retro platformer likeRastanorAct Raiserthat sport a larger character , but that does n’t make it any less tough . I could jump , dodge roster , attack by swinging my sword , and throw a shaft to attack or make a temporary platform , and I had to try out and fight my manner through the story with only those tools .

Oh , and I would die in just two hits too , ghost ‘ n Goblins - panache . Combat is basic , but whenever I ’d assay to rush through it , I would be punish by an enemy flack approach pattern I did n’t account for . Volgarr the Viking 2rewards studying its levels so as to find the optimal path through them . Because of that , I never terminate having fun while playing its demo .

This level feltfairly designed , with every expiry   just another fortune to learn an enemy pattern or degree obstruction . Volgarr the Viking 2also avoids gaudy foe shot or scary leap of faith over bottomless pits . work out my room through the level , I definitely surmount the first few saltation and skeleton opposition see with relief .

I also used the shaft to find some mystery by doing things like throwing a lance into an enemy ’s shell and jumping off that . I even discovered one hidden bureau that theDigital Eclipsedeveloper said no one else who play the demo had found and discovered a power - up that added a fire onset to my jumps as a reward . I ’m excited to plunge into the full game and discover all of its secrets .

Punishing, yet encouraging

I did not count how many prison term I die while playingVolgarr the Viking 2 , but it was quite a circle . Still , I typically get a bit further with each death , even though I was always send to the start of the floor . I even took down a giant gross animate being that tried to kill Volgarr at what I assume was the level ’s center . I did die out after that , though , and discovered yet another feature of the game . When role player die a pile , they ’ll actually become a zombified translation of Volgarr that does not take hurt from hits and only die out in bottomless pits .

This is a welcome feature that give me go for that even role player who are n’t as conversant with these intentionally hard retro - inspired platformers will be capable to see the biz through . Digital Eclipse is also assure thing like a practice mode and unlimited continues for the full game . hard-core players should n’t eat away , though ; players can also makeVolgarr the Viking 2even tougher on themselves by doing thing like destroying checkpoint they could potentially respawn at if they died .

Although I do think I could ’ve beatenVolgarr the Viking 2’sdemo if I had a fiddling bit more time , a particularly tough part with stack of bottomless endocarp and some people grouping up want to dally the game behind me mean I was not able-bodied to . Although I ’m a scrap disappointed that I was n’t capable to beat it and impress the Digital Eclipse developer watching me play , I fuck I ’ll be picking up the full game and control this level through .

Volgarr the Viking 2is coming to PC , PlayStation 4 , PS5 , Xbox One , Xbox Series X / S , and Nintendo Switch on August 6 .